Apparently, Rahm Emanuel isn’t acting Jewish enough. At least for the likes of the Chairman of Israel’s National Union party, Ya'acov Katz. According to the Jerusalem Post, Katz sent a letter to Emanuel admonishing him for reportedly telling an American Jewish leader that,
In the next four years, there will be a peace agreement with the Palestinians on the basis of two states for two peoples, and it does not matter to us who is the prime minister.
Rahm, how could you?
Katz, who is opposed to a two-state solution, apparently didn’t appreciate Rahm’s uppity tone. In his response, he lays the guilt on heavy--
For many Israelis, this report is a cause for worry because it reveals a condescending attitude toward our prime minister and Israeli public opinion. This is an attitude that Israel does not expect from a real friend such as the US, and all the more so from an Israeli Jew who has succeeded in being appointed White House chief-of-staff."
How dare Rahm put the interests of the United States above the interests of intransigent Israeli pols who reject any rapprochement with the Palestinians!
Emanuel was born in Chicago actually, though his physician father was Israeli and a member of the militant Zionist (many would say "terrorist") group Irgun, which carried out some 60+ attacks against Arabs and British soldiers from the late 30’s until the end of WWII. Rahm went to a summer camp in Israel, and attends an Orthodox synagogue in Chicago, but apparently that’s not enough to please Katz. Or perhaps that's exactly what has him all worked up.
Katz goes on to heave the holy book at him, quoting from the biblical story of Esther,
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?
Shades of The Godfather II when Tom Hagen references Roman history in trying to persuade Frankie Pentangeli that he should take one for the team. Will Rahm, like Frankie, be persuaded by Katz’ guilt trip? It doesn’t seem likely. Rahm has stated previously that Obama doesn’t need his input to determine policy on Israel. One of the major concerns of progressives hoping for a change in direction on the I/P conflict has been Obama’s nod to AIPAC last year and his appointment of Emanuel. Unless there’s something we don’t know (and there always is), anxiety on the second score would appear to be misplaced. Rahm is still the Secretary of Go F*ck Yourself.